39) Jour Acoust. Soe, nd Vol. XVI 3&4), December, 1998 VIBRATION OF POND ASH DUE TO CONFINED BLASTING | Dr. A. Ramachandraiah —Ashim Kanti Dey Dr. S.R. Gandhi Associate Professor Research Scholar Associate Professor i Civil Engineering Deptt. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, “ABSTRACT: Deep blasting is one of the most economic, fast and effective methods for densification of loose saturated sandy soil. However, blasting in an ash deposit for densification is a new and risky proposal because the vibration levels are not known so far. Any Breach inthe agh dyke Wh the aerions consequence on the power generation of thermal power plant. This paper deals with the vibration levels measured in a series of Blass. The results show that the vibsoroné as within permissible limits and blasting can be carried out in an ash pond i INTRODUCTION Proper disposal of 70 million tonnes of flyash generated per year from thermal power plants is a major concern of present day research in our country. Court orders banning direct disposal to natural stream / waterbodies have further aggravated the situation, With rise in population, available land for disposal is also scarce. Attention is therefore focussed on compaction ef fooee pond ash so that the capacity of existing ash pond can be inereased. Considerable research work hes bon carried vrieestmProve the density of ash by different techniques like vacuum dewatering, electro-osmosis, Vibrocompaction, stone column, blasting, etc. ( Gandhi et al, 1997). Out of ail the techniques, blasting is found to be very simple, easy, fast and cost*eAfective. But to carry out a blac near an operating thermal power planta priori knowledge on vibration level and risk of damage are required, ‘To get a comprehensive knowledge on vibration, a series of blasts were carried out in an ash Pond at Mettur Thermal Power Plant , TN. The peak particle velocity and the ground acceleration permite eee te discussed in this paper. The values are compared ‘with the available permissible limits for human sensitivity, damage to structures and site laws It is sean ther there is no Possibility of damage either to power plant or to ash dyke. Thus blasting can be cared vex as one of the densification techniques to pond ash without any panic - DETAILS OF TEST PROGRAMME AL the time of test there was 12 m thick ash deposit with water table at I to 3 m below the se niace: Following physical properties were found in the laboratory from a common sample obtained by mixing equal volume of pond ash at Im depth interval Specific Gravity, G = 1.985 Field dry density, yq = 10.69 kN/m 3 Relative density, Rp = 50% A typical gradation curve is shown in fig. 1 Choice of Explosive Each cartridge has a cylindrical dimension of 83 mm diameter and 300 mm height weighing 2.78 kg, The explosive was lowered in a borehole 100 mm dia PVC casing pipe. The details of ‘installation and field monitoring are discussed by Sharma ( 1998 ) Field Blasts Total 15 single point blasts as shown in fig.2 were carried out by varying the following parameters 3011. Number of cartridges per bore hol 2. Depth of charge centre = 6, 8 and 9 m. In one bore bole ( B-2 ) 10 cartridges were lowered to find whether any abnormal rise in vibration occurs oF not 2,3,4,5 and 6. Instrumentation Transient ground motions resulting from blasts are normally measured with seismic type instruments of relatively low natural frequency. A portable vibration meter ( B&K 2511) has been used in the present study. It has a frequency range of 0.3 Hz to 15 kHz and can record acceleration, velocity or displacement. The instrument enables mechanical shocks as short as 25 jts to be measured in the “ peak-peak “ mode. The vibration pick up was placed at a distance of 30 m from each blast hole. TEST RESULTS AND ANALYSIS The peak value of velocity measured after each blast is shown in table 1. The corresponding acceleration and displacement are obtained from a tripartite chart with respect to the natural frequency of vibration of pond ash. The natural frequency of vibration was found to be 20 Hz from a block vibration test. Variation of Peak Particle Velocity ( ppv ) with number of cartridges at different depths are shown in fig 3. It can be seen that the nearer the charge to the surface the more is the peak particle velocity. Table 1. Vibration Measurement Results ye Depth of | Quantity of | Peak Particle | Acceleration | Displacement Blast No. charge charge velocity (m) (kg) (inm/sec) (m/sec 2) (mm) BT 6.00 16.68 16 16 0.13 B2 9.00 28 16 16 0.13 B-3 6.00 Taz 12 15 0.09 Bea 6.00 834 8.6 1.06 0.07 B.S 6.00 5.56 22 03, 0.02 B-6 8.00 16.68 16 16 0.13 BT 8.00 39 9 TW 0.07 B-8 8.00 112 7 09) 0.06 Bo 8.00. 334 70 13 0.08 B=10 8.00 5.56 6 0.75 0.05 Balt 9.00 16.68 2 15 0.09 B-12 9.00 13.9 85 1.05, 0.07 B-13 3.00 11.12 85 105 0.07 Bud 9.00 834 74 0.95 0.06 Bus, 9.00 5.56 33 07 0.045 Site Laws Site laws enable estimates of ground vibration ( usually at ground surface ) with relative to weight of explosive charge, distance and some ‘site factors’. Such experimental investigations are designed around the following suggested relationship : ppv=KW OR-B where, ppv= peak particle velocity in mm/see W = weight of explosive detonated per delay in ke R = radial distance from source in m K=site constant (1), 302& and B = exponents generally controlled by the site conditions. From the test results following relationship can be obtained ppv = 8110.04 W 0.874 R = 2.623 (2) Harris and Crede ( 1961 ) presented a chart as shown in fig 4 to find out safe distance from total explosive weight. It can be seen that for 10 number of cartridges ( weight = 27.80 kg ) the safe distance is around 47 m i Human Sensitivity Damage to human body is produced when the acceleration forces are high enough. However, experimental data are available from experiments on animals, Mice are killed at acceleration of 10 te 20 g ( g is acceleration due to gravity ) within a few minutes - in the range of 15 - 25 Hz; rats and cats killed within 5 to 30 minutes at acceleration above 10 g ( Harris and Crede, 1961 ). Observations ‘on man indicate that above 3 g, sharp pain in the chest may occur and mechanical damage to heart and lungs, injury to the brain, tearing of membranes inthe abdominal and chest cavities are possible, ‘The ear is the part of a human body which is most sensitive to blast injury. Peak pressures of only a few ke/em 2 can rupture the eardrum and still smaller Pressures man damage the conducting mechanism and the inner esr. Thus, vibration will always be a major concern to human senses Some of the éarliest evidence on human sensitivity was provided by Mallock (1902) who investigated the effects of vibrations from the Central London Railway in houses near Hyde Park, when many complaints had originated. He observed the amplitude of vibration about 0.025mm a¢ frequency of 10- 15 Hz and concluded that a vibration producing a maximum acceleration of 0.01 g is noticeable and that the vibration is unpleasant if the acceleration reaches a value of 0.04-0.05 Reiher and Meister (1931) presented a double logarilfite plot of frequency versus amplitude of displacement in microns. The other empirical formulae defining amplitude of vibration producing discomfort are Postleithwaite (1944), A=0.076(1+194/f 2) Dieckmann (1958), A =0.076(1+125/f2 ) where A = Amplitude of vibration in mm f = frequency of vibration in Hz A comparison of present results. with the above the: (3) (4) is shown in table - 2. Thus, it can be seen that at 30 m distance from a single blast of 6 cartridges people will feel discomfort. In the present study 100 m was chosen to be the demarcating zone and no discomfort was felt at that distance. RISK OF DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES A typical acceleration-time curve for large blast and an earthquake shaking is as shown in fig 5 (Harris and Crede, 1961). The general character of both the vibrations is similar, but, the duration of time for blast vibration is considerably less. It is reported that for small dwelling units 2 Peak acceleration of 0.1 g corresponds to a caution limit which may mark the beginning of minor plaster cracking, and that 1 g is a limit above which significant structural damage can be expected, Koch (1953 (source Steffan, 1966 )) made an extensive study on blast induced vibration and the results are shown in Table 3, Table 4 gives the standards for permissible vibration in buildings. +303Table 2: Human sensitivity of present blast study ‘Quantity | Depth] Comments on of charge Mallock’s Comments from observation (ke) | (my Reiher - Meister Scale [ Postleithwaite | Dieckmann 3.56 6.00_|_Notiveabie ‘Annoying Comfortable | Comfortable 8.34 6.00 Unpleasant Unpleasant Comfortable | Comfortable TAz 6.00 | Unpleasant Painful Discomfort | Discomfort 16.68 6.00 |_ Unpleasant Painful Discomfort | Discomfort 5.56 8.00__|__Unpleasant Unpleasant Comfortable | Comfortable 8.34 8.00 | Unpleasant ‘Unpleasant ‘Comfortable | Comfortable 1112 8.00__| Unpleasant Unpleasant ‘Comfortable | Comfortable B9 8.00 Unpleasant Unpleasant Comfortable [Comfortable 16.68 8.00_| Unpleasant Painful Discomfort | Discomfort 5.56 9.00 | Unpleasant Unpleasant Comfortable | “Comfortable 8.34 9.00 | Unpleasant Unpleasant Comfortable | "Comfortable T12 9.00__| Unpleasant Unpleasant Comfortable | Comfortable 13.9 9.00 | Unpleasant Unpleasant Comfortable | Comfortable 16.68 9.00_| Unpleasant Painful Discomfort | Discomfort 27.8 9.00 | Unpleasant Painful Discomfort | Discomfort Table 3 : Recorded case of Severe Vibration Te ‘Amplitude | Frequency | Acceleration | Stengih Notes (mm) Hz £ (Pal yt O21 21 037 41 [Short duration vibration - cracks were produced in the outer wall of 375 mm thick, over door lintels and also on ceilings and intemal walls 0.06 a0 039 39,_| Vibration due to nearby billet shears - the brick wall 15 mm thick showed large through cracks that later reappeared after repair. 020 17 023 38 | Cracks produced in the outer walls of a house in good repair, due to blowing up of rocks nearby, O44 TI 0109 33° | Machine vibration - a through - crack appeared in one of the conerete floor panels - and pieces of conerete became detached in a few places 003 2 Or 29° | Measurements of vibration in a house during explosions in a nearby quarry. Damage confined to a crack over a door lintel in a light pactition wall, *Pal = 10 log 19 ( Z/Z | ) where Z is Zeller’s power of vibration (cm 2/see3)=16n4 A2 £3 A= maximum amplitude of vibration ( half peak to peak) inem ; f frequency of vibration in Hz ; Z1 =05cm2/sec3; thus, ifZ= 1000, Pal =33 It can be seen from the tables that the amplitude of present blast vi Yelocity are within permissible limit even at 30 m distance, except for 115 mm thick brick wall ( refer table 3 ) which may develop cracks. Historie objects like monuments, buildings etc. made of brickwork with lime mortar should not be near to a blast poirt because the permissible ppv for this ration and peak particle 7 304case is very low (refer table 4). Cracking of plaster or cracking of window glass requires very high amplitude of Aground vibration, which a confined blasts cannot produce. For example large amplitude of the order of 2.5 mm or acceleration of the order of I g appear to be necessary for plaster cracking, ‘Lable 4 : Swiss Association for Standardisation (1978 ) Frequency Band Blast Item width induced (Hz) ppv (mis) T) Steel or reinforced concrete structures such as Tactories 10-60 30 retaining walls, bridges, steel towers, open channels, 60-90 30-40 underground tunnels and chambers 2) Buildings with foundation walls and floors in concrete, 10-60 18 walls in concrete as masonry, underground chambers and 60-90 18-25 tunnels with masonry linings. 3) _ Buildings with masonry walls and wooden ceilings 10-60 2 60-90 12-18 4) Objects of historic interest or other sensitive structures 10-60 3 60-90 8-12 CONCLUSIONS: * Following conclusions are drawn from the present study : 1. The depth of charge plays an important role if quantity of explosive is large. Lesser depth gives higher vibration and there is possibility of overthrow of overburden. 2. Vibration of pond ash due to confined blasting will not cause anystructural damage to the nearby power plants or dwelling units. The amplitude of vibration and ppv are in their permissible limits for 27.8 kg of slurry explosive at 9.0 m depth or 16.68 kg at 6.0 m depth, 3. Historic places or old masonry buildings should not be near to this blast. 4, The vibration will be perceptible by a person at 30 m distance. However, due to attenuation of ground motion with distance - 100 m is a safe distance. 5. Blasting can be carried out as one of the densification techniques of pond ash without any panic REFERENCES : Gandhi, S.R., V.S. Raju and Vimal Kumer (1997) ” Densification of Deposited ash slurry * ~ Proc. of Thirteenth Int. Conf. On Solid Waste technology and Management . Philadelphia, Pavoll,4cl- 4c8. Harris, CM. and Crede C.E. (1961) “Shock and vibration Handbook “*, vol3, Me Graw Hill Book Company. Malloc, H.R.A. (1902) * Vibration produced by the working of the traffic on the Central London Railway“ , Bd. Trade Rep. Cd 951 Reiher, H.J. and Meister F.J. (1931 )* Human sensitivity to Vibration “, Forsch, Antdem Geb. Des. Ing 2,11, 381-6 ( Trans. Rep. F-TS - 616- RE, Wright Field, 1946 ) Sharma, § (1998 )- * Field Monitoring of Ash Densification by Blasting “, M. Tech thesis submitted tolT Madras. Steffan, RJ. ( 1966 ) “ Some aspects of Structural vibration “ Proc. of Symposium organised by British British National Section of IAEE, held at Imperial College of Science and Technology , London. i 305ind’ so iF 3 60 4 in x 404 are 204 0 T T aay 0.00 0.01 0.10 1.00 10.00 Particle size (mm ) Fig.l Gradation Curve of Pond Ash a 4 i065 m t som * 50m 7 30m Legend 1. Inside 4 indicates no. of cartridges 2. Inside indicates depth of charge from top Fig.2 Layout of Single Point Blasts 306 *000 109 Peak Particle Velocity (mm/s ) Maximum Allowable Explosive Charge (kg ) 1 0 1m 4 Cistence from Charge(m) 0 Fig.4 Safe Distance From Total Expl a6. 8 1 2 explosive ? NO of Cartridges Weight (After Harris and Crade, 1961) Fig.3. Variation of Peak Particle Velocity With Number of Cartridges i :* Ny | " s il WWW : i) / i : fli ut (2) Horizontal Component at a Distance of 518m from a Total Charge of 609 t of Nitramite and Nilite Explosive (Time Delays: 64t at Osec. ; 215t at O17 sec. and 340t at 034 sec. ) (b ) Horizontal Ground Acceleration Recorded at Olympia, Washington, During the Earthquake of April 13, 1949. Fig.5 Typical Acceleration - Time Curves for A Large Blast and An Earthquake 307